Impacted Communities Remain United against the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipelines

The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) strongly condemns the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) October 13, 2017 decision to grant conditional approval for the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. The agency granted the certification even though important environmental permits are still in question in three states. BREDL North Carolina organizer Therese Vick stated that “FERC again demonstrates that it is an agency held captive by dirty energy interests, with no regard for public health, safety, environmental justice, property rights or the environment. The issuance of this certificate on Friday the 13th bodes ill for the project. “

Kathie Mosely, chair of BREDL chapter Concern for the New Generation in Buckingham County, Virginia said “Since the first African was enslaved in America, communities of color have been abused and marginalized. FERC’s approval of the Buckingham Compressor station and ACP continue the pattern of that abuse and prove that to them, we don’t matter.”

BREDL Virginia organizer Sharon Ponton pointed out that, “Historically, toxic polluting industry facilities are in rural, low-income and/or communities of color. Completing the insult, pipeline construction rules incentivize the devastation borne by these communities because pipe walls are thinner, shut off valves are fewer, and inspections are less frequent creating sacrifice zones and unequal protection of the health and safety of the targeted communities.”

Impacted communities remain united in opposition to the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipelines.